They should 'investigate' and I mean really investigate and throw away the key when they toss the dick and the rest in jail.
CIA probe angers both sides
Dick Cheney joins critics of a planned investigation into alleged CIA detainee abuse.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Good news for job seekers
Good news for job seekers
Many companies plan to add full-time employees over the next year, a new report says.
South Carolina's $260 million man
South Carolina's $260 million man
A retiree insists the largest jackpot in South Carolina history won't change him.
Fear Factor
First we had mad cow disease, then we had bird flu and now we have swine flu.
... its FARMAGEDDON!!!
... its FARMAGEDDON!!!
Class Action Suit Claims Facebook Invades Privacy, Sells Personal Information
Facebook invades the privacy of its customers and misappropriates people's images and personal information for marketing and commercial purposes, a class action claims in Orange County Court, Calif. The class claims Facebook's "unconscionable" terms and conditions allow it to compile an extraordinary amount of data from users, and permits third parties access to a gold mine of information without users' knowledge or consent."Data collected from Facebook users is the key commercial asset that Facebook uses for market valuation, internal marketing purposes, and for licensing and direct sale of data to third parties," according to the complaint.
Professional photographer Elisha Melkonian says Facebook permitted her photos to be downloaded, copied and distributed without her permission, despite her fruitless attempts to stop it.
Melkonian says she is concerned that Facebook has stored personal information posted by her 11-year-old son, including "partially clothed photographs of children aged 5 to 11" who were swimming.
She claims Facebook has received "thousands" of complaints from users concerned about unauthorized use of their information and photos.
Melkonian says that Facebook knows its users do not want their personal information circulated around cyberspace, yet its terms of use allow Facebook to retain users' posted data long after it has been taken off of the site.
Melkonian says she recently removed one of her son's postings in which he revealed he might have swine flu, and has been "unable to learn where (his) medical information may have been stored, disseminated or sold by Facebook."
She claims Facebook's terms and conditions are misleading, as they do not clearly specify how Facebook stores or uses such sensitive material as contact information, date of birth, email addresses and phone numbers, which puts users at risk of identity theft.
"The statement that 'Facebook does not sell your information is misleading and false,'" Melkonian says. "Facebook has misled users with policies that imply that users are in control of their personal data."
She wants Facebook enjoined from collecting or selling user data and from permitting downloading of copyrighted photos without permission. She also seeks class damages of $750 for every unauthorized use of names or photos.
The class is represented in Orange County Court by Dana Taschner with the Lanier Law Firm of Los Angeles.
In the Jungles of Indiana
A young man fishing in Lafayette, Indiana hooked himself a piranha.
It was a big one too: 13 inches long and weighing in at 2.5 pounds.
It was a big one too: 13 inches long and weighing in at 2.5 pounds.
The 21-year-old Lafayette man said he had no idea what kind of fish it was at first.
“My dad actually stuck his thumb in its mouth, because we didn’t know what it was,” Asbury said. “It bit down on him and he said, ‘It’s got teeth...’ ”
(Indiana Department of Natural Resources biologist Dean Zimmerman) expects this is an isolated case, probably of someone dumping their pet in the river.
Dutch government tries to stop 13-year-old girl from sailing around world solo
Laura Dekker, age 13, wants to sail around the world by herself in a 25-foot boat, and her parents support her.
However, Social workers in the Netherlands have stepped in to try to make Laura a ward of the court, which would prevent the parents from allowing her to do it.
However, Social workers in the Netherlands have stepped in to try to make Laura a ward of the court, which would prevent the parents from allowing her to do it.
Laura had a yacht by the age of six and began sailing solo when she was 10."Since I was 10 years old, I've known that I would like to sail around the world," she told Dutch television.
"I want simply to learn about the world and to live freely."
Dutch bid to thwart young sailor
Teen fights to sail globe solo
A 13-year-old girl is in a legal battle to be the youngest to sail alone around the world.
Wake Up America
George Carlin called on us to wake up years ago. We have still not awoken fully but we can't hit the 'snooze' button any longer.
This is George Carlin, folks, so any of you with virgin or sensitive ears be forewarned and if you are a repugican you have no need to worry you are deaf anyway.
This is George Carlin, folks, so any of you with virgin or sensitive ears be forewarned and if you are a repugican you have no need to worry you are deaf anyway.
Corporate America wises up?
Skippy of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo posted the following:
Get Beck to where you once belonged
33 sponsors have pulled their spots from theFunny end point. Could it be that corporations are beginning to wake up and smell the coffee? That America is leaving them behind - except for the lunatic fringe.Col. KlinkGlenn Beck show:A total of 33 Fox advertisers, including Walmart, CVS Caremark, Clorox and Sprint, directed that their commercials not air on Beck's show, according to the companies and colorofchange.org, a group that promotes political action among blacks and launched a campaign to get advertisers to abandon him. That's more than a dozen more than were identified a week ago...Clorox? Paraphrasing a comment we read on another thread elsewhere: you know it's bad when Glenn Beck can't even hold onto the people who makes things whiter.
The Clorox Co., a former Beck advertiser, now says that "We do not want to be associated with inflammatory speech used by either Liberal or conservative talk show hosts." the maker of bleach and household cleaners said in a statement that is has decided not to advertise on political talk shows.
Survival in a post-apocalypse blackout
A study that replicated months of darkness after asteroid impacts and massive volcanic eruptions shows how scavenging organisms can help life survive.
Survival in a post-apocalypse blackout
Science News
From BBC-Science:
China sizes up carbon footprint
 | | Polar bears have shrunk over the last century, say scientists who have linked the physical changes to "stress" caused by pollution. |
| South Korea launches its first space rocket, though a satellite it was carrying failed to enter into its proper orbit. | | Trees around the world are colonising new territories in response to higher temperatures, a new global analysis reveals. |
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THE BIG PICTURE
China sizes up carbon footprint
There is a very important Supreme Court case looming
There's a very important Supreme Court case looming, that could very well decide whether giant corporations can purchase elections.
It's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a challenge to the current regulations that limit corporate funding (although nowhere near as much as such funding should be limited).
There's serious cause for worry that former corporate lawyer and extreme wing nut radical John Roberts could lead the Supreme Court to very plainly and openly state that corporations have absolute freedom of speech that can not be regulated at all.
Basically, this would be the formal introduction of fascism (the wing nuts accuse everyone else of 'introducing'), in lieu of the more informal fascism that's been taking hold thus far during the last eight years under the cabal.
It's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a challenge to the current regulations that limit corporate funding (although nowhere near as much as such funding should be limited).
There's serious cause for worry that former corporate lawyer and extreme wing nut radical John Roberts could lead the Supreme Court to very plainly and openly state that corporations have absolute freedom of speech that can not be regulated at all.
Basically, this would be the formal introduction of fascism (the wing nuts accuse everyone else of 'introducing'), in lieu of the more informal fascism that's been taking hold thus far during the last eight years under the cabal.
The U.S. Still Trails in Broadband Speeds
A new nationwide study release by Speed Matters shows what many Americans already know: the U.S. lags behind many other countries in terms of broadband speeds.
Saudi Arabia's construction of nuclear plant aimed against Iran
Construction of Saudi Arabia's nuclear power plant with support from the U.S. is a response to Iran's nuclear program, and therefore, analysts believe that this will lead to political tensions in the Middle East.
"If Saudi Arabia and the United States carry out this project, it will affect the political situation in the Middle East and lead to the armament of region countries."
Uzbekistan sees balance against Russia in cooperation with U.S.
Uzbekistan believes the cooperation with the U.S. is a balance against the Russian influence and guarantee of its intervention in country's internal politics, said Jeffrey Mankoff, American Expert on Russia.
Uzbekistan is interested in playing a larger role in regional security and sees Russia as the main threat to its aspirations, he said.
Australian man taken to hospital after being glued to toilet seat in shopping mall
A man who used a public toilet in a shopping mall was taken to a hospital to have the toilet seat removed from his backside after someone smeared it with glue in what an official condemned Monday as a sick joke.
Glued to toilet seat
Glued to toilet seat
Arizona man indicted on manslaughter charge
Authorities say a Phoenix man accused of using the Cash for Clunkers program to ditch his BMW after a fatal hit-and-run crash has been indicted on a manslaughter charge.
Manslaughter charge
Manslaughter charge
Home prices see big momentum
Home prices see big momentum
The Coin Flip: A Fundamentally Unfair Proposition?
Many statistics examples start with "assuming a fair coin-toss..."
But it turns out that coin-tosses aren't fair; depending on your toss, there's a small-to-alarming bias in the result.
But it turns out that coin-tosses aren't fair; depending on your toss, there's a small-to-alarming bias in the result.
1. If the coin is tossed and caught, it has about a 51% chance of landing on the same face it was launched. (If it starts out as heads, there's a 51% chance it will end as heads).2. If the coin is spun, rather than tossed, it can have a much-larger-than-50% chance of ending with the heavier side down. Spun coins can exhibit "huge bias" (some spun coins will fall tails-up 80% of the time).
3. If the coin is tossed and allowed to clatter to the floor, this probably adds randomness.
4. If the coin is tossed and allowed to clatter to the floor where it spins, as will sometimes happen, the above spinning bias probably comes into play...
Court orders Google to ID anon blogger who called model "skank"/"ho", blogger threatens Google with $15 mil suit
Xeni Jardin posted this piece over at BoingBoing.net yesterday and makes a great point.
I can't tell which NYDN headline is weirder: "Court forces Google to tell model Liskula Cohen identity of blogger that called her 'skank'," or "Outed blogger Rosemary Port blames model Liskula Cohen for 'skank' stink."
I can't tell which NYDN headline is weirder: "Court forces Google to tell model Liskula Cohen identity of blogger that called her 'skank'," or "Outed blogger Rosemary Port blames model Liskula Cohen for 'skank' stink." The grown-up version of the story boils down to this: a 27-year old fashion student maintained an anonymous blog in which she described a Vogue cover model as a "skank" and a "ho." The model, Liskula Cohen, took legal action. Under court order, Google revealed the blogger's identify. Apparently the two women were previously friends/social acquaintances.
Now, the formerly anonymous blogger, outed as one Rosemary Port of NYC (shown in the photo above) says she plans to sue Google for $15 million for revealing her identity. More online: SF Gate, ZDnet. A Wikipedia entry points to more info on Liskula Cohen's life and career (including a horrible slashing attack she survived in 2007 which maimed her face.)
Now, the source of the current legal conflict is pretty stupid. The behavior of the characters involved does not cause one to feel much empathy. But switch the parties around to, say, Iranian political dissidents, or torture witnesses, or fraud whistleblowers -- and you can see how the privacy issues involved (and liability issues for Google) are worth considering. First they came for the bitchy fashion students...
And I Quote
In our society somebody who is indicted for violating campaign finance law is now
a celebrity. He ought to be running for prom queen in San Quentin or some place.
~ Jack Cafferty, wondering how Tom DeLay got off the hook
a celebrity. He ought to be running for prom queen in San Quentin or some place.
~ Jack Cafferty, wondering how Tom DeLay got off the hook
Cash for Clunkers has ended
Via Bartcop:
Cash for Clunkers has ended
They sold 457,000 cars with $1.9 billion in rebates
They sold 457,000 cars with $1.9 billion in rebates
Excerpt:
The $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program will shut down on Monday, the government said Thursday.
Officials decided to wind down the program, which Congress passed to spur flagging auto sales, after determining that it would soon run out of money.The program proved wildly popular, running through its initial $1 billion in its first week and leading lawmakers to approve an additional $2 billion in funding on Aug. 7.
So why are we ending it - is this another Democratic laydown?
The right-wing liars have been screaming about the cost of this program which
may end up saving Detroit, but it also saved tens of thousands of jobs in the car
industry as well as glass plants, electronics, the tire and rubber industry, leather seats,
plastics and steel and the list goes on and on.
may end up saving Detroit, but it also saved tens of thousands of jobs in the car
industry as well as glass plants, electronics, the tire and rubber industry, leather seats,
plastics and steel and the list goes on and on.
So it's a little expensive, but we should ask, "Compared to what?"
Bush gave Colgate $300M and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave his crooked Enron friends $772M and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave Ford $5.5 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave GE $5.3 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave IBM $2.5 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave Microsteal $7.2 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave the crooks at WorldCom $4 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
Bush gave those corporate robbers $25.5 billion and who did they hire? Nobody!
But when Obama gives a half a million families new, fuel-efficient cars while saving tens of thousands of jobs for $3 billion the right-wing loons go crazy and try to make the president out to be some socialist big spender.
Tone-deaf people have fewer brain connections
As the same connections are involved in language, rehabilitation strategies for tone deafness may also help with speech and language disorders.
Health News
Expanding waistlines may cause shrinking brains
Brain regions important for cognition are smaller in obese older people, making their brains look up to 16 years older than they are.
Climate change could swamp Venice's flood defence
Climate change could swamp Venice's flood defence
A new study suggests that sea level rises by the end of the century will mean Venice is inundated up to 250 times a year – and flood barriers may not be enough to save it
Best places in U.S. to find a job
Best places in U.S. to find a job
These parts of the country are giving job seekers hope amid the worst recession in decades.
Cheapest cars to own
10 cheapest cars to own
Look beyond the sticker price for how much it will cost to operate your next vehicle.
Grim worst-case scenario for swine flu
Grim worst-case scenario for swine flu
Up to 90,000 Americans could die from the swine flu this fall and winter, the CDC warns.
Daily Almanac
Today is Tuesday, Aug. 25, the 237th day of 2009.
There are 128 days left in the year.
Today in History.
There are 128 days left in the year.
Today in History.
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
London, England, United Kingdom
Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland
Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Guilford, England, United Kingdom
Brussels, Brussels-Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Brighton, England, United Kingdom
Grimsby, England, United Kingdom
Kingston Upon Hull, England, United Kingdom
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Hawthorne, Victoria, Australia
as well as Philippines, Croatia, Brazil, and the United States
London, England, United Kingdom
Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland
Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Guilford, England, United Kingdom
Brussels, Brussels-Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Brighton, England, United Kingdom
Grimsby, England, United Kingdom
Kingston Upon Hull, England, United Kingdom
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Hawthorne, Victoria, Australia
as well as Philippines, Croatia, Brazil, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
You're a born leader.
You always have been and you always will be.
So when someone comes to you now, asking that you help take charge of a difficult project that just isn't getting off the ground properly, you'll be more than happy to do it.
Just be sure what you're doing isn't interfering with your 'real' job.
Paychecks are a wonderful thing, too.
Yes they are.
You're a born leader.
You always have been and you always will be.
So when someone comes to you now, asking that you help take charge of a difficult project that just isn't getting off the ground properly, you'll be more than happy to do it.
Just be sure what you're doing isn't interfering with your 'real' job.
Paychecks are a wonderful thing, too.
Yes they are.
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